Gripper for lasting machines



May 14, 1929.

G. Gouou GRIPPER FOR LASTING MACHINES Original Filed July 23; 1923Patented May 14, 1929.

UbllTE o-nonsn sense, or wrnon s mnonmnnv conroaarron, or PAYFPERBAClI'I'USE'ITS, ("BEETS-NOR TO UNITED SHOE 0N, NEW Y, A, CORPORATION OFNE? GBTLTEPER FUR LA$TIN5 IlllACHllIilES.

Original application filed July 23, 1923, S rial lqo.

lhis invention to grippers for pulling uppers over last-s in machinesfor lasting boots and shoes, this application being a division of mycopending application Serial No. 653,291, tiled on July 28, 1923. Theinvention is illustrated as applied. to a gripper ecpecially adapted foruse in a machine olf that type in which the upper materials are grippedand pulled successively in different locations along the edge of theshoe bottom, as disclosed, tor example, in the above-i'nentioned copend-2g applieation, but it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to grippers lesigned for nachines of that particular kind. j a 1j A well-known type of gllp llll' extensively used. heretofore inlasting machines comprises a pair of uppergripping jaws which presentbetween them an upper-receiving opening extending in a laterallyinclined downward direction, the pair of jaws consisting of a lowerrelatively fixed aw and a cooperating upper jaw mounted on a verticallyswii'iglng link for bodily downward closing movement toward the fixedjaw and also for swinging movement about its connection with the link ina laterally inclined downward direction toward the gripping taco of thefixed jaw in closing. A gripper of that type is shown, for example, inUnited States Letters Patent No. 1,005,234, granted on October 10, 1911,upon an application of S. W. Ladd and E. A. Stiggins. In such a gripperit has been recognized as desirable to delay or retard theabove-mentioned swinging movement of the movable jaw until after asubstantial portion of its bodily downward movement has been completed,in order to afiiord better insurance that the movable j aw will be in aposition to reach out over the margin of the upper ,naterials when itfirst engages them and that it will therefore clamp them properlyagainst the fixed jaw. This is especially desirable by re son of thefact that at diflerent portions of the edge of the shoe bottom there islikely to be considerable variation in the angular relation of themargin of the upper materials to the plane ot the insole and in thedistance that they project beyond the edge of the insole. In the griiiper shown in the above-incintionedl'ietters Patent there wasaccordingly provided cam means arranged to act on a Serial Midi/391.Divided and this application filed April 7,

shank portion of the movable jaw to delay the swinging movement of thisjaw toward the fixed jaw in the first portion of its downward closingmovement, and even to cause it toreach out still farther over the marginof the upper, and thereafter in the latter portion the closing movementto impart to it a .con'iparatively quick swinging movement toward thegripping face of the fixed aw. i

1 The present invention provides an improved construction. atlordingstill better insurance of the proper operation of agripper in closing.In the illustrated application of the invention to a gripper of the samegeneral type as that shown in the aboveanentioned l'aetters Patent,control of the swinging movement of the movable jaw to delay andthereafter to accelerate such movement ell'ected by engaging its shankportion relatively near the axis of the jaw, as compared with thedistance i. its uppengripping end from the axis, the construction shownco1nprising means for thus engaging a suitably formed cam face on theshank portion of the jaw at a progressively increasing distance from tieaxis during the bodily downward movement of the jaw. 15y thus engagingthe jaw relatively close to its axis, especially in the first portion ofits closing movement, when it is desired substantially to prevent itfrom swinging, control of its gripping end in the manner desired isgreatly facilitated, since a comparatively small variation in thecontour of its cam l ce is all that is needed for properly controllingits more distant gripping end. As also more particularly hereinillustrated, the movable jaw comprises an angle lever having arms ofunequal lengths with its gripping lace at the outer extremity of itslonger arm and the controlling cam face on the shorter arm; and both thelonger arm of this lever and the cooperating fixed gripper aw are soextended that their upper gripping end portions are oflset a substantialdistance laterally from the jaw-supporting and controlling portions ofthe gripper. The long laterally extending arm of the movable jaw, incombination with the controlling means above described, affords aconstruction whereby swin gin g movement of the gripping end of the isconveniently and effectively controlled in such a manner as practicallyto insure the terials.

The novel features of the invention will now be more; particularlydescribed by reference to .theaceompanying drawings and thereafterpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a gripper in which the inventionis embodied, illustrating the first position of the gripper in relatonto a shoe;

Fig. 2' is a view similar to Fig. 1, with parts in section, showing thegripper as it appears at an intermediate stage in the closin movement ofthe movable jaw; and

T ig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the positions of the partsclosing movement.

Except as more particularlyhereinafter described, the gripper hereinshown is similarin its general organization to the gripper propergripping of the upper maat the end of the 'shown'in'the above-mentionedLetters Patent. It comprises a gripper jaw carrier 10 to the lower endof which is secured a jaw 12 which. may be conveniently termed a fixedjaw, since it has no closing movement. Coope'ratingwith the jaw 12 is anupper movable jaw 14 supported on the carrier 10 by means of avertically swinging link 16, this j aw havinga shank portion 18 extendinupwardly above the link and connected y a short link 20 to the lower endof a closing rod 22 which is vertically movable in the carrier 10; Itwill thus be seen that by downward movement of the rod 22 there isimparted to the jaw 14 a bodily downward closing movement toward the jaw12, accompanied by a downward swinging-movement of the link 16. Thislink is initially inclinedas shown in Fig. 1, so that thejaw 14 in thefirst portion of its downward movement is carried some what to the leftas the link swings to a horizontal position, after which, in its furtherdownward movement, the jaw has a compo- .nent'of movement toward theright in response to the action of the link, as will be evident byreference to Figs. 2 and 3.

Also in general similarity to the construction shown in theabove-mentioned Letters Patent, there is faston the carrier 10 a member24 for engaging the shank 18 of the jaw 14 to control swinging movementof the jaw about theaxis of its pivotal connection 26 with the link 16,and the shank 18 has thereina spring plunger 28 which acts on a lug 30 Iast on the link 20 with a tendency to swing the lower end'of the linktoward the right and thereby to hold the shank 18 of the jawcontinuously in contact with the member 24. 7

.It will be understood that in operation the gripper as a whole,including the carrier 10 and the closing rod 22, is moved downwardly andtoward the left from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1preparatory to gripping the margin a of the upper materials of a shoeheld in the hands of an operator in a position determined by a sole rest32. After the gripper has thus been moved into position to grip theupper, closing movement is imparted to the jaw 14 through downwardmovement of the rod 22, whereupon the gripper is moved upwardly andtoward the rig it to pull the upper over the last. The means forimparting operative movements to the jaw carrier 10 and to the closingrod 22 are not shown herein, since the construction of: such means iswell known and is, moreover, fully disclosed in the copendingapplication of'which this application is a division.

In the construction provided for purposes of this invention the gripperjaws 12 and 14 comprise elongated arms projecting laterallyofthejawcarriei. 10 and provided with uppergripping faces at their outerextremities in locations offset a substantial distance from the axis ofthe closing rod The movable gripper jaw 14 is, moreover, formed as anangle lever with its gripping arm considerably longer than that armwhich constitutes the upwardly extending shank portion 18 of the jaw,the pivotal connection 26 between the jaw and the link 16 being locatedat the apex of the angle between the two arms. To control as desired theswinging of the jaw 14- about its connection with the link 16, the shankportion 18 of the jaw has a cam face suitably formed for continuousengagement during the downward movement of the jaw with a nose orabutment 34 on the lower end of the controlling member 24. Asillustrated, the cam face on the shank 18 comprises a projection 36 in alocation near the axis 26, a hollow 38 immediately above thisprojection,

.and another projection 4.0 above the hollow 38. Initially the parts areso positioned that the projection 36 of the shank 18 is in en gagementwith the abutment 34, as shown in Fig. 1, to prevent contact of theouter cud of the jaw 14 with adjacent parts of the machine in which thegripper is utilized. As bodily downward movement is imparted to the jaw14 by the closing rod 22, after the gripper has been moved intoupper-gripping position, the hollow or depression 38 of the shank 18 arrives in position to engage the abutment $1 in the first part of suchdownward movement. thus delaying the swinging movement of the jaw 14about its connection to the link 16 in a dir ction toward the fixed jaw12, as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will further be noted that this actioncoincides substantially with the movement of the jaw 14 toward the leftby the swinging of the link 16 to horizontal position, as hcreinbeforedcscrilxrd. the result being that the jaw 14 reaches out farther overthe margin of the upper without swinging inwardly toward the grippingface of the jaw 12. In the further downward movement of the closing rod22 the projection tion of the closing movement, this action coins cidingwith the lateral bodily movement of the jaw resulting from the swingingof the link.

16 below horizontal position. It will thus be seen that in the closingof the gripper the gripping arm of the awll reachesout to insure that itwill be properly positioned in relat-ion to the margin of the upperbefore any substantial movement of the upper-gripping face of the jawtoward the fixed jaw 12 takes place, and then swings sharply inwardtoward the fixed jaw with a large component of lateral movement asdistinguished from down ward vertical movement to grip the margin of theupper materials evenly and firmly without danger of pushing themdownwardly before they are gripped. i

It will be evident that an importantfao.

tor in obtaining the desired results by the use of the constructionabove described is the means for controlling the swinging movement ofthe movable gripper jaw by engaging it coniparatively close to the aboutwhich it swings. Since the shank portion or arm 18 of the jaw issubstantially shorter than the upper-gripping arm, and furthermore sincethe abutment 34 engages the arm 18 between its opposite ends, thereflective length of the lever arm through. which control oftheswingingmovement of the jaw is eliected is at all times substantiallyless than the length ol the gripping arm, and.

especially so in the first portion of the downward closing movement ofthe jaw when its swinging movement is retarded bythe cooperative actionof the abutment 34 an d the hollow 38 in the arm 18. Accordingly, control of the upper-gripping end of the aw in such manner as to producethe most satisfactory results can be effected, as shown, by the use of acam face on thearm 18 not involving any very pronounced variation incontour and well within the limits of practical design.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent ol the United States .is:--

1. A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a jaw carrierhaving a relatively fixed gripping aw thereon, a cooperab ing jaw somounted as to have a combined bodily movement and swinging movementtoward the fixed jaw in the closing o'lrthe gripper, the axis ofswinging movement of the movable jaw being so located as to divide thejaw intoa gripping arm atone side of the axis and a shank portion at theother side of the axis, and controlling means on the car.- rier arrangedto engage the shank portlon or the movable aw first in a locationcomparatively near said axis and then in locations successively fartherfrom said axis in the closing movement tocontrol the swinging of the jawin closing, said controlling means and the shank portion of the movablejaw being so formed as to delay the swinging of said jaw toward thefixed aw in the first portion of its closing movement and to impartthereto a relatively quick swinging movement toward the fixed jaw in thelatter portion of the closingmovement.

2. A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a jaw carrierhaving a relatively'fixed gripping jaw thereon, a coopei ating jaw somounted as to have a combined bodily movement. and swinging movementtoward the fixed jaw in the closing of the gripper, the axis of swingingmovement of the movable jaw bein so located as to divide the jaw into agripping arm at one side of the axis and a shank portion at the otherside of the axis, and a controlling abutment (it said jaw toward thefixed jaw in the first portion of lts closing movement and a projectionfor imparting thereto a relatively quick swinging movement toward thefixed jaw in-the latter portion. 01' the closing movement.

3. A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a jaw carrierhaving a rclatively fixed gripping aw thereon, a cooperating aw somounted as to have a combined bodily movement and swinging movei'nenttoward the fixed jaw in the closing of the gripper, the axis of swingingmovement of the movable jaw being so located as to di vide the jaw intoa gripping arm at one side of the axis and a shank portion at the otherside of the axis, and a member on the carrier arranged to engage theshank portion of the movable jaw in locations at different distancesfrom said axis successively in the closing movement to control theswinging oi. the jaw in closing, said shank portion having therein adepression to receive said nie1nher and thereby delay the swinging ofthe movable jaw toward the fixed jaw in the first bodily movement andswinging movement toward the fixed jaw in the closing of the gripper,the axis of swinging movement of the movable jaw being so located as todivide the jaw into lever arms of unequal lengths with the gripping faceat the end of the longer arm, and controlling means on the carrierarranged toengagethe shorter arm of the movable jaw in locations atdifferent distances from said axis successively in the closing movementto control the swinging ofthe jaw in closing, said controlling means andthe portion of the movable jaw engaged thereby being so formed 10 as todelay the swinging of said jaw toward the fixed jaw in the first portionof its closing movement and to impart thereto a relatively quickswinging movement toward the fixed jaw in the latter portion of theclosing move I as to have a combined bodily movement and swingingmovement toward the fixed jaw in the'closing of the gripper, the axis ofsaid swinging movement being located substantially at the junction ofsaid lever arms, and controlling means on the carrier arranged to engagethe shorter arm of the movable. aw first in a location comparativelynear said axis and then in locations successively farther from said axisin the closing movement to control the swinging of the jaw in closing,said controlling means and the portion of the movable jaw engagedthereby being so formed as to delay theswinging of said jaw toward thefixed aw in the first portion of its closing movement and .toimpartthereto a relatively quick swingingmovement toward the fixed jaw in thelatter portion of the closing movement. I

' 6. A gripper fora lasting machine having,

in combinatioma aw carrier having a rela tively fixed gripping awthereon a cooperatng movable 13W: comprising a gripping arm and a shankportion, a link pivotedon said 'a'w carrier for swin in movementtowardand from the fixed jaw and pivotally supporting themovable jaw at apoint substantially at the unction of its gripping arm and its shankportion, means for imparting to the movable jaw a bodily closingmovement toward the fixed aw while swinging said supporting'link, and anabutment on said jaw carrierarranged to engage the shank portion of themovable jaw in locationssuccessively farther from the connection of thelatter with the link during the closing movement to control swingingmovement of the jaw about said connection, the shank portion of said jawhaving a hollow therein to cooperate with said abutment to'delayswinging of the jaw toward the fixed jaw in the first portion of theclosing movement. r

7 'A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a -jawcarrier having a relatively fixed gripping jaw thereon, a cooperatingmovable jaw comprising a grip )ing arm and a shank portion, a linkpivoted on said jaw carrier for swinging movement toward and from thefixed Jaw and pivotally supporting the movable jaw at a pointsubstantially at the junction of its gripping arm and its shank portion,means for imparting to the movable jaw a bodily closing movement towardthe fixed jaw while swinging said supporting link, and an abutment onsaid jaw carrier arranged to engage the shank portion of the movable jawin locations at different distances from its connection with the linksuccessively in the closing movement to control swinging movement of thejaw about said connection, the shank'portion of said jaw having a camface engaged by said abutment and so formed as to delay swinging of thejaw toward the fixed jaw in the first portion of the closing movementand to impart thereto a relatively quick swinging movement toward thefixed jaw in the latter portion of the closing movement.

S. A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a jaw carrierhaving a relatively fixed lower gripping jaw thereon, a cooperatingupper jaw, a link supporting said upper jaw on the jaw carrier forbodily closing movement toward the lower jaw and also for swingingmovement toward the lower jaw about its connection with the link, saidupper jaw having a shank portion extending upwardly above the link, anda member on the aw carrier above the link having at its lower end aprojection arran ed for continuous engagement with said s iank portionof the upper jaw during the closing move ment of the latter to controlthe swinging of said jaw about its connection with the link, said shankportion having a cam face engaged by said projection and so formed as todelay swinging of the upper jaw toward the lower jaw in the firstportion of the closing movement and to impart thereto a relatively quickswinging movement toward the lower jaw in the latter portion of theclosing movement.

9. A gripper for a lasting machine having. in combination, a jawcarrier, a closing rod movable lengthwise in said carrier. a pair ofcooperating gripping jaws projecting laterally of said carrier withgripping faces at their outer extremities in locations offset asubstantial distance from the axis of the closing rod, one of said jawsbeing fixed on the carrier and the other mounted for bodily closingmovement toward the fixed jaw and also for swinging movement toward saidjaw in closing. means connecting the movable jaw to the closing rod, andmeans on the carrier for engaging a portion of the movable jaw tocontrol its swinging movement, said'means being arranged to engage thejaw initially in a location at a shorter distance from the axis of itsswinging movement than that between said axis and the gripping face ofthe jaw and constructed to cooperate with the portion of the jaw engagedthereby to delay the swinging of the jaw toward the fixed jaw in thefirst portion of the closing movement and to impart thereto a.relatively quiclt swinging movement toward the fixed jaw in the latterportion of the closing movement.

10. A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a jawcarrier, a closingrod movable lengthwise in said carrier, a pair ofcooperating gripping jaws projecting 1atcrally of said carrier withgripping faces at their outer extremities in locations offset asubstantial distance from the axis of the closing rod, one of said jawsbeing fixed 011 the carrier, a link supporting the other jaw on thecarrier for bodily closing movement toward the fixed jaw and also forswinging movement toward the fixed jaw about an axis at its connectionwith the link, said movable jaw having a shank portion at one side ofsaid axis shorter than the portion of the jaw at the other side of saidaxis, means con necting said shank portion to the closing rod, and anabutmenton the jaw carrier arranged to engage the shank portion of themovable jaw in locations successively farther from said axis in theclosing movement to control the swinging of the aw, the shank portion ofsaid movable jaw having a cam face engaged by said abutment and soformed as to del av swinging of the jaw toward the fixed jaw in thefirst portion of the closing move ment and to impart thereto arelatively quick swinging movement toward the fixed jaw in the latterportion of the closing movement.

- iii. A gripper for alasting machine having, in combination, a awcarrier, a closing rod movable lengthwise in said carrier, a pair ofcooperating gripping jaws projecting laterally of said tier withgripping faces at their outer extremities in locations offset asubstantial distance from the axis of the closing red, one of said jawsbeing fixed on the carrier, the other aw comprising an angle leverhaving arms of unequal lengths with the gripping face at the end of thelonger arm, a link connected to said last-named jaw in a locationsubstantially at the apex of its angle and supporting said jaw on thecarrier for bodily closing movement toward the fixed jaw and also forswinging movement toward said jaw about its connection with the link,means connecting the shorter arm of the movable jaw to the closing rod,and means on the carrier arranged to act 011 said shorter arm to delayswinging of the movable. jaw toward the fixed jaw in the first portionof the closing movement and to accelerate such swinging movement in thelatter portion of the closing movement.

12. A gripper for a lasting machine having, in combination, a jawcarrier, a closing rod movable lengthwise in said carrier, a pair ofcooperating gripping jaws projecting laterally from said carrier withgripping faces at their'outer extremities in locations offset asubstantial distance from the axis of the closing rod, one of said jawsbeing fixed on the carrier, the other jaw comprising an angle leverhaving arms of unequal lengths with the gripping face at the end of thelonger arm, a link connected to said last-named jaw in a locationsubstantially at the apex of its angle and supporting said jaw on thecarrier for bodily closin g movement toward the fixed jaw and also forswinging movement toward said jaw about its connection with the link,means connecting the shorter arm of the movable jaw to the closing rod,and a device on the carrier arranged to engage said shorter arm inlocations successively farther from its connection with the link in theclosing movement to control the swinging movement of the movable aw,said arm having a cam face engaging said controlling device and soformed as first to delay and then to accelei ate the swinging of themovable aw toward the fixed jaw.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE Ll ODIDU.

